Comments on: We dig the pig http://www.thewordmagazine.be/office/we-dig-the-pig/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:59:11 +0000 hourly 1 By: Hilary http://www.thewordmagazine.be/office/we-dig-the-pig/#comment-29 Hilary Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:39:02 +0000 http://www.thewordmagazine.be/?p=824#comment-29 What an interesting project, and to have spent three years demonstrates how diverse the uses are for pig products. The pig is a much maligned creature but until recently was the only source of insulin for insulin dependent Diabetics. So in fact the pig is a life saver. Regretably the substitute for pig derived insulin is not always suitable for users and can have severe side effects, but the pig insulin is being phased out. Ethically it would be wonderful to think that no animals are killed in order to feed, clothe, furnish or any of the thousands of uses animal parts are used for, as demonstrated in this project, but when something as important as a lifesaving drug can be derived from a pig, one wonders why the drug companies are so keen to get rid of it? What an interesting project, and to have spent three years demonstrates how diverse the uses are for pig products. The pig is a much maligned creature but until recently was the only source of insulin for insulin dependent Diabetics. So in fact the pig is a life saver. Regretably the substitute for pig derived insulin is not always suitable for users and can have severe side effects, but the pig insulin is being phased out.

Ethically it would be wonderful to think that no animals are killed in order to feed, clothe, furnish or any of the thousands of uses animal parts are used for, as demonstrated in this project, but when something as important as a lifesaving drug can be derived from a pig, one wonders why the drug companies are so keen to get rid of it?

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